FARE-DODGERS have had a field day since the introduction of the number 25 bendy bus which runs through Ilford.

For the bus is top of the table when it comes to non-payers, according to a recent survey of 44 different routes.

But that is not its only problem, as the bus has also been labelled the most dangerous in London, with the highest number of emergency calls.

Transport for London's (TFL) most recent figures show that fare evasion on the 25 bus, from Ilford to Oxford Circus, rocketed from 7.7 per cent in February to 11.9 per cent in May meaning that over one in ten passengers on the bus were non-payers.

The news comes after the bus's route was recently labelled the most dangerous in London with the highest number of emergency calls made by drivers.

Former Redbridge cabinet member for transport, Morris Hickey, has long had concerns with bendy buses. "I'm very familiar with their problems," he said.

"That type of bus is totally unsuitable for Ilford. I couldn't put it better than as the most dangerous route in London.

Mr Hickey also agreed with there was a problem with fare dodgers, adding: "If someone gets on at the back they can easily get away without paying.

"They should look more at how the system operates on the continent. Similar buses in Europe use cancellation machines positioned all around the vehicle so you have to validate your card."

A spokesman for TFL said: "It's something we're looking at. Sometimes a rise in figures can be put down to seasonal differences."

"We take out these surveys to find out things like this. We will look at the results and try to come up with solutions."

There have been worries about the use of bendy buses ever since they were first introduced. TFL's latest figures show that the average percentage of irregular passengers on bendy buses is 8.9 per cent, compared with an average on all buses of just 2.8 per cent.

TFL plan to recruit more ticket inspectors to combat the recent rise in fare evasion. They currently have 286 inspector and aim to have 327 by next May.